The meeting at the Academy was organized within the visit of the representatives of the OSCE Strategic Police Matters Unit to Uzbekistan.

The delegation included the OSCE Senior Police Adviser Knut Dreyer, Political Advisor on Strategic Issues of Police matters of the OSCE Secretary General Robert Hamsher, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan Istvan Venczel and employees of the OSCE office in Uzbekistan.

Deputy Minister of Interior Affairs of Uzbekistan colonel Abdukarim Shodiev received the delegation along with heads of divisions of the Ministry and management of the Academy.

Welcoming the guest, Shodiev underlined that the visit is positive step and evidence for further interaction with the OSCE Strategic Police Matters Unit and the Ministry of Interior Affairs of Uzbekistan. Shodiev briefed the delegation about structure of the ministry, its structure and criminogenic situation in Uzbekistan.

He said that the Ministry actively participates in international cooperation, including harmonization of legislation to international norms, participation in international conference, holding operations with foreign partners. He added that international cooperation helps to study and introduce advanced experience of foreign police departments into activity of the Interior Ministry.

Knut Dreyer expressed gratitude for warm welcome and valuable information. He said that the cooperation among the OSCE Strategic Police Matters Unit, OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan and Interior Ministry is developing fruitfully and dynamically.

He briefed the participants about main directions of the activity of the OSCE Strategic Police Matters Unit and said that the main task of the unit is to support interior affairs bodies of the OSCE member states to ensure rule of laws and main democratic principles.

These works are aimed at assisting to create skilled cadres to fight new security and stability challenges. Dreyer said that the unit is interesting in further expanding partnership relations with the Interior Ministry of Uzbekistan.

Acting head of the Interior Ministry’s Academy Timur Saitbaev said that the Academy boosted cooperation with the foreign colleagues. He underlined fruitfulness of cooperation of the Academy with the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan.

The participants discussed implementation of the OSCE joint project “Assisting to improve system of training cadres for law enforcement bodies at the Academy of Interior Affairs Ministry of Uzbekistan”, which helps to introduce European experience in curriculum of the Academy.

During the meeting, the sides determined perspectives of further expansion of cooperation between the OSCE and Interior Ministry of Uzbekistan.

During the visit, the OSCE delegation familiarized with educational process at the Academy. The OSCE officials praised educational potential of the Academy and expressed satisfaction with constructive cooperation with interior bodies of Uzbekistan. They also stated about intention to strengthen mutual l beneficial contacts.